Eminent artist Qayyum Chowdhury passed away this evening after falling unconscious while addressing Bengal Classical Music Festival at Dhaka’s Army Stadium.

The veteran artist, who was a special guest at the opening of the fourth night’s performance, dropped unconscious on the stage during his speech around 9:00pm.

On-duty doctors at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) declared him dead around 9:45pm, said an official of the hospital seeking anonymity.

Qayyum Chowdhury spoke on the history of arts’ practice in Bangaldesh during his speech. He said it was the musicians in the likes of Abdul Alim whose music inspired portrayal of the opulence of Bangladesh in his canvas.

He was returning to the podium for speaking a second time ahead of Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman’s turn when he fell unconscious.

The artist did not regain consciousness since and passed on to the realm of no return.